“They tell me I can save the world… the orang-utans, the dolphins, the oceans, the rain forest, and even humankind – all I have to do is buy sustainable and fair products. But that’s a lie.” – Werner Boote, Director, The Green Lie

The documentary The Green Lie searches for the truth behind the omnipresent buzz word “sustainability”, looking critically at the business of and with “organic” food, so-called “green products”, and how this label is utilized by some big cooperation for their own profit. The film addresses questions like the profiteering with “organic” products, food security and globalization, which will be further discussed by award-winning filmmaker Werner Boote, the Austrian organic food pioneer in the US, Nora Pouillon, and food and water program director for Food & Water Watch, Patty Lovera. The discussion will be moderated by Julian Lampietti, Manager for Global Agriculture at the World Bank.

The debate will be followed by a Q&A session and a wine reception.

ABOUT “THE GREEN LIE”

“When you shop with a conscience, you don’t save the world, you save the corporations!” Austrian director Werner Boote and German author Kathrin Hartmann apply the weapons of truth to the dishonesties of the “greenwashing” enterprises by following the trail of corporate green lies to the sites of the most catastrophic environmental disasters: the tremendous impact of BP’s oil pollution on Grand Isle caused by Deepwater Horizon, the extent of the rainforest fires ignited by palm oil corporations in Indonesia, and the consequences of cattle farming on indigenous peoples in Brazil.

Are the “green products” of industry nothing more than a sales strategy?

After attending the SEA – Sustainable Entrepreneurship Award in Vienna, a palm oil conference in Bali, and the RWE general assembly in Essen, Werner and Kathrin come to realize that industry’s so-called “green products” have no relation to true sustainability, but instead cloud the judgement of the people, destroy the environment, and undermine the truly necessary steps that must be taken. They discuss the connections of ecology and economy and the mistakes of policies that shift the responsibility of fair and sustainable resource management onto consumers with renowned experts, including professor Noam Chomsky – one of the most important contemporary philosophers and a harsh critic of globalization – and the journalist and activist Raj Patel.

ABOUT

Werner Boote | Director, “The Green Lie”

After years of being an assistant director (to Robert Dornhelm, Ulrich Seidl, Bud Spencer and others) Werner began making his own films in 1993. His initial focus was on music, including the videos Anouk – Sacrifice (1999) and Andrea Bocelli – Tuscan Skies (2002). Numerous award-winning music documentaries followed, for example Kurt Rydl – The Gladiator (2007), which was nominated for the FIPA European Film Award.

In 2009, his first feature film, Plastic Planet, arrived in Austrian cinemas and won the Golden Romy for "Best Documentary Feature". It went on to appear in over 80 countries and accomplished countless changes in legislation, industry and society. "It is one of those rare call-to-action documentaries that roused viewers to do something against plastics." (Variety) In the movie Population Boom (2013), Werner puts an end to the widespread worldview of overpopulation and calls for distributive justice. The film was crowned with the “Green Me Award” for the Best Green documentary in Berlin. After the evocative documentary Everything’s Under Control (2015) about the self-evidence of pervasive surveillance, his new box-office-hit The Green Lie hit theaters in 2018 and premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale).

Julian Lampietti | The World Bank

Julian Lampietti is the Manager for the Global Agriculture Practice in the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. His responsibilities include business development, client relations, and oversight for analytical and advisory services of agricultural projects. Prior to taking up this assignment, Julian was leading the Sustainable Development Program for Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay based in Buenos Aires. Julian has published books and journal articles on a broad range of topics including poverty, economics, agriculture, food security, logistics, and energy. He has a PhD in Public Policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master’s in Natural Resources Economics from Duke University.

Nora Pouillon | Chef

Nora Pouillon is a pioneer and champion of organic, environmentally conscious cuisine. Born in Vienna, Austria, Nora came to the United States in the late 1960s. In 1999, her own restaurant “Restaurant Nora” became the first certified organic restaurant in the United States, a feat accomplished by few since. Over the years, Nora has received awards from many culinary and organic organizations. In 2009, she was the first recipient of the Genesis Award from Women Chefs and Restaurateurs, which recognizes a woman who has achieved a true “first” in the culinary profession. In October 2011, Chefs Collaborative inducted her into their Pioneers Table. On top of her work supporting the organic food movement, Nora champions for a cleaner environment so future generations can also enjoy life on Earth. She sits on the board of directors of the Amazon Conservation Team, the Environmental Film Festival, FRESHFARM Markets and Earth Day Network.

Patty Lovera | Food and Water Watch

Patty Lovera is the food and water program director for Food & Water Watch. Patty has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Lehigh University and a master’s degree in environmental policy from the University of Michigan. Before joining Food & Water Watch, Patty was the deputy director of the energy and environment program at Public Citizen and a researcher at the Center for Health, Environment and Justice. FWW’s food policy work includes fighting factory farms, food safety and meat inspection, and the need for antitrust policy to address growing consolidation in the food and agriculture system.

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Parking on International Court is available after 6:30 pm (for the duration of the event) or on 36th Street; access to the Embassy through the park behind the building.

PLEASE NOTE: A registration is not a guarantee of a seat as these are assigned on a first-come first-served basis. Doors close at event start-time.